'I saw it on Facebook!' Assessing the influence of social media on patient presentation to a melanoma screening clinic.
Journal
Clinical and experimental dermatology
ISSN: 1365-2230
Titre abrégé: Clin Exp Dermatol
Pays: England
ID NLM: 7606847
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Apr 2020
Apr 2020
Historique:
received:
08
04
2019
revised:
20
08
2019
accepted:
18
09
2019
pubmed:
22
9
2019
medline:
17
6
2020
entrez:
22
9
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The motivations for patients presenting to melanoma screening clinics (MSCs) with concerning skin lesions are poorly understood. Social media (SoMe) refers to online platforms designed to facilitate sharing of information with billions of users worldwide. There is evidence of patients posting skin lesion 'selfies' on SoMe, influencing internet searches. Interventions through SoMe may have positive impacts on health seeking behaviour. To identify the influence of SoMe on patients presenting to an MSC service, and to establish whether patients have been exposed to SoMe posts on skin cancer, from medical authorities or the public. For this pilot study, qualitative data were collected from patient questionnaires over 7 consecutive weeks at MSCs in Newcastle upon Tyne hospitals. Questions involved demographics, factors influencing attendance, use of SoMe and exposure to content on skin lesions on SoMe. Questionnaires were collected from 249 patients across a range of ages. Self-examination of lesions was the most common driver. One person in the study population described SoMe as having motivated their attendance, while 30 patients recalled seeing posts from health authorities regarding skin cancer. Qualitative data indicated that patients could be influenced by targeted public health campaigns on SoMe. This study suggests that SoMe is not currently a major conscious driver to attend an MSC, even among SoMe-familiar populations. However, the fact that SoMe is ubiquitous in society, in conjunction with our qualitative data, may suggest that current strategies for SoMe melanoma information delivery are not of requisite quality to break through to target populations.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The motivations for patients presenting to melanoma screening clinics (MSCs) with concerning skin lesions are poorly understood. Social media (SoMe) refers to online platforms designed to facilitate sharing of information with billions of users worldwide. There is evidence of patients posting skin lesion 'selfies' on SoMe, influencing internet searches. Interventions through SoMe may have positive impacts on health seeking behaviour.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
To identify the influence of SoMe on patients presenting to an MSC service, and to establish whether patients have been exposed to SoMe posts on skin cancer, from medical authorities or the public.
METHOD
METHODS
For this pilot study, qualitative data were collected from patient questionnaires over 7 consecutive weeks at MSCs in Newcastle upon Tyne hospitals. Questions involved demographics, factors influencing attendance, use of SoMe and exposure to content on skin lesions on SoMe.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Questionnaires were collected from 249 patients across a range of ages. Self-examination of lesions was the most common driver. One person in the study population described SoMe as having motivated their attendance, while 30 patients recalled seeing posts from health authorities regarding skin cancer. Qualitative data indicated that patients could be influenced by targeted public health campaigns on SoMe.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that SoMe is not currently a major conscious driver to attend an MSC, even among SoMe-familiar populations. However, the fact that SoMe is ubiquitous in society, in conjunction with our qualitative data, may suggest that current strategies for SoMe melanoma information delivery are not of requisite quality to break through to target populations.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
295-301Informations de copyright
© 2019 British Association of Dermatologists.
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